Digital Samba
Anyone who wants truly free, unlimited video conferencing without compromises — plus privacy-conscious organizations and developers needing GDPR-native embedded video via Digital Samba Embedded
Score Comparison
Pricing & Features
Making Your Decision
When to Choose Digital Samba
Anyone who wants truly free, unlimited video conferencing without compromises — plus privacy-conscious organizations and developers needing GDPR-native embedded video via Digital Samba Embedded
Digital Samba offers something no other platform can match: a completely free video conferencing product (DS Free) with no participant limits, no session time limits, and no 40-minute gotchas — a genuine free alternative to the Big 3. The company makes its money through Digital Samba Embedded, a VPaaS product for developers who need white-label video with full API/SDK access and EU-only data residency. The collaboration toolset — breakout rooms, whiteboard, polling, quizzes, Q&A, shared notes — goes deeper than many premium competitors. With 20+ years in business and privacy baked into the architecture (not bolted on), Digital Samba is a serious contender that flies under the radar.
Strengths
- DS Free is completely free with no participant limits, no time limits, and no catch — a genuine alternative to Zoom, Teams, and Meet without the annoying 40-minute cap
- Privacy-first, GDPR-native platform — all infrastructure EU-only, zero-tracking business model, no data sold or shared
- Comprehensive feature set rivaling premium platforms — breakout rooms, whiteboard, polling (30 options), quizzes, Q&A with upvoting, shared notes, and AI captions/transcriptions/summaries
- Full API parity with the UI, SDK, webhooks, and CNAME white-labeling — strongest embedded/VPaaS offering for developers via Digital Samba Embedded
Limitations
- Embedded product uses EUR-based pricing and usage-based model (participation minutes), which adds complexity vs simple per-seat pricing
- Less brand recognition outside Europe — smaller community and fewer third-party reviews compared to the Big 3
- AI features launched recently (late 2025) — functional but still maturing compared to Zoom AI Companion or Teams Copilot
When to Choose Pexip
Large enterprises with existing video room infrastructure that need interoperability across platforms and self-hosted security
Pexip occupies a unique niche as the interoperability specialist. If your organization needs to connect legacy SIP/H.323 systems with modern Teams or Meet rooms, Pexip is one of the few platforms that does it well. The limited AI features and high entry cost make it a poor fit for teams seeking a primary video conferencing tool.
Strengths
- Only Microsoft-certified Cloud Video Interop (CVI) provider that supports self-hosted deployment
- Cross-platform interoperability — connects SIP, H.323, Teams, and Google Meet rooms seamlessly
- Self-hosted option for organizations with strict data sovereignty requirements
- Purpose-built for complex enterprise and government meeting room environments
Limitations
- Limited AI features compared to mainstream consumer-facing platforms
- No free tier and pricing is enterprise-focused — not suitable for small teams
- Setup complexity is high — designed for IT teams, not end users
